The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area–Background Paper 2017 the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, States enshrined their stronger abolitionist stance in international law. The Secretary-General reiterates his call for universal ratification of the Second Optional Protocol, and urges those States that have not yet ratified it to do so without delay. 57. The 70 years since the United Nations came into being have seen a remarkable shift from a large majority of Member States that maintained the death penalty to, nowadays, a minority. Since 1997, the General Assembly has adopted five resolutions that called on States to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty. Currently, approximately 160 of the 193 Member States of the United Nations have abolished the death penalty or introduced moratoriums, either in law or in practice. States should go beyond simply ceasing executions and aim for a suspension of capital punishment for all who might be, or have been, sentenced to death. National prosecutors may consider refraining from seeking the death penalty. Judges may consider not imposing it. In this regard, the highest judicial bodies could issue judicial directives or sentencing guidelines, as appropriate. 58. The continued lack of transparency on the part of some Governments concerning the numbers of persons who have been executed is incompatible with human rights. States should refrain from carrying out executions in secret and strive to take all measures necessary to guarantee access to information on the death penalty, including advance notice to family members regarding the date of execution. 59. States that continue to apply the death penalty should comply with international human rights requirements, as stipulated in article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In particular, capital punishment may be imposed only for most serious crimes, that is, intentional killing, and may not be mandatory in such cases. States should also adhere to fair trial guarantees in capital cases. Clemency, pardons and commutations are critical steps towards the abolition of the death penalty. Heads of State and Government and other responsible State authorities should exercise their constitutional and/or legal authority to grant amnesty, pardon or commutation of the sentence of death in all cases. 60. States should consider developing measures to minimize the harm suffered by other persons affected by the death penalty, including family members of convicts, defence lawyers, prison staff and medical staff. In particular, under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, States must take measures to ensure that children’s rights, including the principle of the best interests of the child, are duly considered during sentencing. 66